Boulder Creek GCC & Resort

16901 Big Basin Highway, Boulder Creek, 95006. Pro Shop (408) 338-2121. Fax 338-7862

Public play accepted. Set in the mountains with great scenery, this 18 hole, par 61 (61.5) is tougher than it looks. Yardage: 4279 from whites, 3970 from front. Green fees: $8-$30. Cart: $17. No driving range.

• Warning: this course can be brutal if you slice or hook. Narrow, sloping, and treelined fairways are only enhanced by the steep pool table speed greens. Not recomended for the squeemish.

Canyon Lakes CC

640 Bollinger Canyon Way, San Ramon, 94583. Pro Shop (510) 735-6511. Fax 735-5114.

Public, 18 holes. Green Fees: $55-$70, includes a cart. 6379 yard, par 71 (70.9), 71 (69.0), and 71 (69.9) from blue, white, and red tees respectively. Green speed is medium.

Chuck Corica GC

1 Clubhouse Memorial Road, Alameda, 94502. Pro Shop (510) 522-4321. Fax 522-0848.

36 holes. Green Fees: $17-$25. Cart Fee: $18. Earl Fry course is 6174 from the blue tees and is par 71 (69.2), 71 (67.6), and 71 (71.0) from the blue, white, and red tees respectively. The Jack Clark course is 6559 from the blue tees and par is 71 (70.8), 71 (68.5), and 71 (70.0) respectively.

Deep Cliff GC

10700 Clubhouse Ln., Cupertino, 95014. Pro Shop (408) 253-5357. Fax 253-4521.

A 3369 yard "18 holer." Although shorter, this course is in well kept condition and can be quite a challenge. Greens are medium speed. Par is 60 (59.0). Green fees are $13-$29 with no power carts allowed.

• Great for the beginner, this is a well tailored course with nice scenery and forgiving terrain. My favorite thing about this course is you can order your food at the 9th tee, from a call box, and pick it up as you head for 10.

Laguna Seca GC

10520 York Road, Monterey, 93940. Pro Shop: (408) 373-3701. Fax: 373-3899.

18 holes, 6110 yards from blue tees. Green Fees: $25-$55. Cart Fee: $25. Par is 71 (70.4) from blue, 71 (68.5) from white, and 72 (70.8) from red.

Pacific Grove GL

77 Asilomar Blvd., Pacific Grove, 93950. Pro Shop: (408) 648-3175. Reservations: 648-3177. Fax: 648-3179.

Municipal, 18 holes, 5732 yards from blue tees. Green Fees: $24-$28. Cart Fee: $25. Par is 70 (67.5) from blue, 70 (66.6) from white, and 72 (70.5) from red.

San Mateo GC

1700 Coyote Point Drive, San Mateo, 94401. Pro Shop: (415) 347-1461.

Municipal, 18 holes. 5919 yards from blue tees. Green Fees: $12-$24. Cart Fee: $19. Par is 70 (68.3) from blue, 70 (66.7) from white, 72 (70.7) from red, and 72 (69.8) from gold.

Santa Theresa GC

260 Bernal Road, San Jose, 95119. Pro Shop: (408) 225-2650. Fax: 226-9598.

18 holes, 6738 yards from blue tees. Green Fees: $24-$34. Cart Fee: $22. Par is 71 (72.1) from blue, 71 (70.6) from white, and 73 (73.5) from red.

• This is probably the hardest public course to get on in San Jose. You can, however, get on a waiting list, before dawn, eat a great breakfast in the resturaunt, and be out by 9:00.

Spring Hills GC

31 Smith Road, Watsonville, 95076. Pro Shop: (408) 724-1404.

18 holes, 5891 yards from blue tees. Green Fees: $15-$30. Cart Fee: $24. Par is 71 (68.4) from blue, and 71 (71.1) from red.

Spring Valley GC

3441 East Calaveras Blvd., Milpitas, 95035. Pro Shop: (408) 262-1722. Fax: 262-3260.

18 holes, 6099 yards from blue tees. Green Fees: $23-$33. Cart Fee: $22. Par is 70 (68.8) from blue, 70 (67.8) from white, and 73 (71.2) from red.

Sunnyvale GC

605 Macra Lane, Sunnyvale, 94086. Pro Shop: (408) 738-3666.

Municipal, 18 holes, 6227 yards from blue tees. Green Fees: $13-$30. Cart Fee: $22. Sunnyvale residents get a discount and first priority on tee times. Par is 70 (69.7) from blue, 70 (67.6) from white, and 70 (71.2) from red.

• Call ahead to find out if there is sand on the greens. Otherwise a great course.

Thunderbird GC

221 South King Road, San Jose, 95116. Pro Shop: (408) 259-3355.

18 holes (not counting those in the fairway), 4700 yards from the blue tees. Green (using the term loosely) Fees: $14-$17. Pull-cart: $2. Par is 64 (56.6) from the white tees. Info on red not available.

• This is the "creme of the crap" course of San Jose. For those less particular on where they play. PVC flagpoles and divots on the "greens" give this one an ambiance not found elsewhere.